Open AccessCD146‐mediated acquisition of stemness phenotype enhances tumour invasion and metastasis after EGFR‐TKI resistance in lung cancer
Author(s) -
Zhang Fan,
Wang Jia,
Wang Xiaobo,
Wei Nan,
Liu Haiyang,
Zhang Xiaoju
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
the clinical respiratory journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.789
H-Index - 33
eISSN - 1752-699X
pISSN - 1752-6981
DOI - 10.1111/crj.12976
Subject(s) - cd146 , cancer research , metastasis , cancer stem cell , gefitinib , erlotinib , medicine , phenotype , lung cancer , cancer cell , stem cell , cancer , biology , pathology , epidermal growth factor receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , cd34 , biochemistry
Tumours are more likely to metastasize after the development of resistance to EGFR‐TKIs. CD146 is a multifunctional molecule and is implicated in tumour invasion and metastasis; however, its role in lung cancer has not been clearly established. Objective Here, we aimed to explore the relationship between CD146 pathway and stem cell phenotype after EGFR‐TKI resistance in lung cancer. Methods EGFR‐TKI‐resistant cell lines were established by exposing parental cells to erlotinib/gefitinib. The CD146 level was measured by a western blot, RT‐PCR and immunocytochemistry fluorescent. Cell migration was examined by the transwell assay and the scratch assay. Stemness phenotype genes were evaluated by RT‐PCR and stem cell phenotype was observed by the microsphere formation assay. Results CD146 and stemness phenotype genes increased while β‐catenin decreased in acquired EGFR‐TKI‐resistant cell lines. CD146’s over‐expression induced the up‐regulation of stemness‐related genes and was inversely correlated with the β‐catenin expression, which further increased the migration capability of resistant cancer cells. CD146’s knockdown suppressed cell migration and stemness phenotype. Conclusions CD146 molecule contributes to the stemness phenotype and migration in EGFR‐TKI‐resistant cells. CD146 might be a potential therapeutic target for EGFR‐TKI‐resistant lung cancer or metastasis prevention.